The great forgotten Texas tenor John Hardee was active from the late 1930s through the early '50s, but left behind scant evidence of his genius. Influenced deeply by both Coleman Hawkins and Chu Berry, Hardee recorded with everyone from Tiny Grimes to Earl Bostic and led his own bands. The eight sides he cut for Blue Note are all collected here along with alternate takes, as are three he cut with Grimes (again with alternates.) Sound on this collection is wonderful, and the music itself, strolling between balladic swing and bebop, is represented here by cuts like "Nothin' But Blue Skies," "Hardee's Partee," and the sprightly "Idaho," all which feature Grimes on guitar. For those who've only heard the Savoy sides, this Japanese CD is a true treasure.